US4642526A - Fluorescent object recognition system having self-modulated light source - Google Patents
Fluorescent object recognition system having self-modulated light source Download PDFInfo
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- US4642526A US4642526A US06/650,809 US65080984A US4642526A US 4642526 A US4642526 A US 4642526A US 65080984 A US65080984 A US 65080984A US 4642526 A US4642526 A US 4642526A
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- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 39
- QSHDDOUJBYECFT-UHFFFAOYSA-N mercury Chemical compound [Hg] QSHDDOUJBYECFT-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 10
- 230000010355 oscillation Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 7
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 claims description 20
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 claims description 13
- 239000003990 capacitor Substances 0.000 claims description 11
- 238000004804 winding Methods 0.000 claims description 8
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000001429 visible spectrum Methods 0.000 claims 2
- 230000005284 excitation Effects 0.000 abstract description 3
- 230000003595 spectral effect Effects 0.000 description 6
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 4
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 3
- 238000010521 absorption reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 description 2
- 101100386054 Saccharomyces cerevisiae (strain ATCC 204508 / S288c) CYS3 gene Proteins 0.000 description 1
- NINIDFKCEFEMDL-UHFFFAOYSA-N Sulfur Chemical compound [S] NINIDFKCEFEMDL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000005864 Sulphur Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003213 activating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000011230 binding agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 125000006367 bivalent amino carbonyl group Chemical group [H]N([*:1])C([*:2])=O 0.000 description 1
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001914 filtration Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007850 fluorescent dye Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000009472 formulation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052739 hydrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000001257 hydrogen Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000002431 hydrogen Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000049 pigment Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000843 powder Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002904 solvent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 101150035983 str1 gene Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 238000006467 substitution reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000007 visual effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- H05B41/00—Circuit arrangements or apparatus for igniting or operating discharge lamps
- H05B41/14—Circuit arrangements
- H05B41/36—Controlling
- H05B41/38—Controlling the intensity of light
- H05B41/39—Controlling the intensity of light continuously
- H05B41/392—Controlling the intensity of light continuously using semiconductor devices, e.g. thyristor
- H05B41/3921—Controlling the intensity of light continuously using semiconductor devices, e.g. thyristor with possibility of light intensity variations
- H05B41/3922—Controlling the intensity of light continuously using semiconductor devices, e.g. thyristor with possibility of light intensity variations and measurement of the incident light
Definitions
- the present application is directed to a system for detecting ultraviolet fluorescent energy, and more particularly to a system in which the optical light source is self-modulated. It has particular application for object identification or recognition systems where the object is marked with an optically responsive indicia which fluoresces in the visible spectral region upon exposure to ultraviolet light of the proper wavelength.
- Another problem which has been encountered in visible light detection systems is interference from areas or other light sources adjacent the scanned area.
- erratic operation of the optical detection system may be caused by reflections from the object itself or its carrier, from movement of objects or personnel near the object being scanned, or from visible light sources, particularly those excited by an alternating current power source, such as fluorescent lamps.
- the present invention is direction to an object recognition system which overcomes these problems.
- the object to be identified is marked with a small area of fluorescent material which emits secondary radiation comprising visible light of a predetermined wavelength only when illuminated with ultraviolet radiation in a particular spectral band.
- fluorescent materials have found application, for example, in marking laundry items, and are described in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 3,066,105, U.S. Pat. No. 3,162,642, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,164,603.
- These types of fluorescent materials are normally colorless in ordinary light, but fluoresce with a distinctive visible color of a predetermined wavelength when excited by ultraviolet light. Depending on the particular chemical compensation of the material, visible light emission of a large number of spectral bands between yellow and blue may be obtained.
- the fluorescent material can be caused to emit visible light in a specific desired wavelength.
- ultraviolet radiation is provided by a self-modulated high pressure mercury vapor lamp which is operated from a conventional 60 hertz alternating current power source through a step-up auto transformer in series with a capacitor.
- a resonant circuit is formed which causes the light intensity of the lamp to oscillate at a selectable frequency which is a non-integral multiple of the power line frequency.
- self-modulated refers to modulation of the lamp light intensity by means of a resonant circuit including the lamp, rather than by external excitation, triggering or switching of the lamp or its power supply.
- the light intensity from the lamp has a major Fourier component of 120 hertz which is due to the line voltage and an additional major Fourier modulating frequency component of 1250 hertz.
- the lamp is self-modulating at 1250 hertz.
- the modulated light output from the vapor lamp passes through an optical absorption filter which passes only a narrow range of ultraviolet energy.
- the filtered ultraviolet light is reflected from a beam splitter, through a focusing lens and onto the object bearing a small area of fluorescent material.
- the incident ultraviolet radiation causes the fluorescent material to fluoresce, with the resulting visible light of a predetermined color or wavelength based upon the chemical properties of the fluorescent material being passed back through the lens and beam splitter to an optical band pass interference filter which passes the peak intensity of the visible light.
- the filtered visible light is focused onto a photodetector, and the resulting electrical signal from the photodetector filtered so as to remove the line frequency component and thereby isolate the modulating signal.
- the resulting signal is peak detected, and applied to a voltage comparator which can be set to determine whether or not the system has detected modulated radiation of the proper wavelength from the fluorescent material.
- the oscillating signal produced by the self-modulating lamp provides greater discrimination for the detection system, particularly in applications where high level ambient background light conditions are encountered, since the fluorescing light has a well defined character comprising the modulating component which is not present from the background light sources. That is, the system of the present invention is better able to discriminate between fluctuating UV radiation produced by random or 60 hertz UV sources and a UV source having the proper modulated frequency.
- external modulation of the high pressure mercury vapor lamp is not required, so that the modulating signal can be produced by self-modulating the lamp in a manner which is relatively simple, reliable and inexpensive.
- FIGURE illustrates a schematic diagrammatic view of an object recognition system using the inventive principle of the present invention.
- FIGURE For purposes of an exemplary showing, a preferred embodiment of the object recognition system of the present invention is illustrated in the FIGURE It will be observed that the specific application illustrated is for distinguishing the presence or absence of an object 1 bearing a small spot or area 2 of a fluorescent material or coating.
- any fluorescent material which produces visible light of a predetermined wavelength upon being excited by appropriate ultraviolet radiation may be utilized in connection with the present invention, such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,066,105, U.S. Pat. No. 3,162,642, or U.S. Pat. No. 3,164,603.
- Each of these compositions represents a fluorescent pigment which is normally colorless in ordinary light, but distinctively fluorescent at a particular wavelength when excited by ultraviolet light falling within the appropriate wavelength band. Normally such compounds are supplied in powder form, and are mixed with a plastic or solvent. At very low concentrations, e.g. 0.001%-0.01%, the fluorescent material when applied to the substrate or object 1 is substantially transparent and non-visible.
- the material when applied to the underlying object may take on a grey or off-white color.
- the material when applied to the underlying substrate be unnoticeable. Consequently, it may be utilized on objects such as food packages where additional visible markings are undesirable, and in order to avoid obscuration of important information on the package.
- the particular chemical composition of the fluorescent material is chosen so that when it is excited by a suitable source of ultraviolet light, the emitted visible light occurs at a specific predetermined wavelength.
- a suitable source of ultraviolet light for purposes of an exemplary showing, one class of compounds particularly useful with the present invention may be summarized by the following chemical formula: ##STR1##
- X represents either oxygen or sulphur
- Y represents NHCO and NHCONZ 2
- Z 1 represents hydrogen, a 1-8 carbon chain aliphatic, and a radical represented by the formula: ##STR2##
- This particular composition produces a colorless compound which floresces yellow to orange in ultraviolet light.
- Other substitutions of the radicals will produce various other visible output color emissions lying between yellow and blue, i.e. between about 450-620 nm.
- the visible light emitted may be accurately determined.
- the size of the spot area 2 applied to object 1 will depend upon the particular geometry of the underlying object and the detector installation, as will be described in more detail hereinafter. Furthermore, it will be understood that the spot 2 may be applied to a particular face or side of the underlying object such that the orientation of the object may also be determined. Furthermore, one object 1 may be marked with a material 2 which fluoresces at one visible wavelength, while another object may be provided with a different fluorescent compound fluorescing at a different visible wavelength. In this manner, one object may be distinguished from another. A method and apparatus for accomplishing this is described in more detail in copending patent application Ser. No. 476,477 filed Mar. 18, 1983 and entitled "Object Recognition And Identification System Using Ultraviolet Fluorescent Materials", and assigned to a common assignee. The disclosure of this application is specifically incorporated herein by reference.
- the fluorescent material 2 may be excited by means of a light source producing ultraviolet energy within the appropriate spectral band.
- a high pressure mercury vapor lamp 3 is utilized, which may be of type L5375 manufactured by Canrad-Hanovia. It will be understood that various details of the mounting of lamp 3 have been omitted from the figure for clarity.
- Vapor lamp 3 is excited from a 120 volt 60 hertz source of alternating current 4 through a 120/240 volt step-up autotransformer 5 such as a triad type N250MG in series with a 7.5 microfarad capacitor, C1. That is, the primary winding of the autotransformer is connected to the 60 hertz alternating voltage source, while the secondary winding of the autotransformer is connected in series with lamp 3 and capacitor C1.
- a 120/240 volt step-up autotransformer 5 such as a triad type N250MG in series with a 7.5 microfarad capacitor, C1. That is, the primary winding of the autotransformer is connected to the 60 hertz alternating voltage source, while the secondary winding of the autotransformer is connected in series with lamp 3 and capacitor C1.
- the excitation circuit utilized in connection with high pressure mercury vapor lamp 3 produces self-modulation of the lamp at a particular frequency without the necessity for external modulation of the lamp.
- the modulating frequency of the lamp may be changed by proper selection of the values for capacitor C1 and the inductance associated with autotransformer 5. It will also be understood that other types of resonant circuits may be employed to self-modulate lamp 3. In any event, it is deemed desirable that the modulating frequency be sufficiently greater than the light intensity oscillation component attributable to the line frequency (or spurious variations in background light intensity) that the higher frequency modulating signal component can be removed by electronic filtering. It will be observed that this condition is satisfied in the present invention inasmuch as the modulating frequency is more than twenty times the 60 hertz supply line frequency.
- the modulated light output from lamp 3 is passed through an optical absorption filter 6 which only passes a narrow band of ultraviolet radiation, for example at a wavelength of 365 nm.
- an optical absorption filter 6 which only passes a narrow band of ultraviolet radiation, for example at a wavelength of 365 nm.
- other ultraviolet wavelengths may be utilized depending on the particular type of fluorescent material 2 used, or alternately other types of self-modulated lamps may be used producing different spectral outputs.
- the wavelength of the resulting UV radiation will be chosen to be compatible with the particular fluorescent material used.
- the resulting filtered UV light 7 is reflected from the reflecting surface of a UV cut-off filter (e.g. a Rolyn 66.2425 filter) used as a beam splitter 8 through a convex focusing lens 9 onto the fluorescent material 2.
- a UV cut-off filter e.g. a Rolyn 66.2425 filter
- the exciting UV energy focused on fluorescent material 2 causes the production of visible light at a predetermined wavelength which is focused through convex lens 9 onto beam splitter 8.
- the visible light passes through beam splitter 8 as at 10 and passes through an optical band pass interference filter 11 having a narrow passband at the fluorescent visible wavelength of fluorescent material 2.
- optical bandpass interference filter 11 The output from optical bandpass interference filter 11 is focused onto a photovoltaic detector 12 having a spectral response in the visible fluorescent wavelength region of fluorescent material 2. Consequently, by proper selection of the passband of optical filter 11 and of photovoltaic detector 12, the system is sensitive only to a very narrow range of visible light wavelengths. Consequently, the system will not respond to visible light having wavelengths outside this response band. Furthermore, since the fluorescent material 2 may be caused to fluoresce only when irradiated by suitable ultraviolet light having a predetermined wavelength band, the marking means themselves are relatively insensitive to ambient conditions. In addition, the intensity of the fluorescing material also provides good contrast to the background created by object 1 or other nearby objects.
- the signal output on line 13 from photovoltaic detector 12 will have the same major Fourier components as the modulated light output from lamp 3 inasmuch as the relaxation time of the fluorescent material 2 is relatively short compared to the frequencies of the modulating components of the light. Consequently, the electrical output from photovoltaic detector 12 will also be modulated at a frequency of 120 hertz corresponding to the line frequency and a higher modulating frequency such as 1250 hertz associated with the self-modulating characteristic of lamp 3 as previously described.
- the remaining portion of the circuitry illustrated in the FIGURE is operable to demodulate the electric output from the photovoltaic detector.
- the output from detector 12 appearing on line 13 is buffered by a suitable amplifier 14 and applied to a high pass electrical filter 15 which essentially eliminates the 120 hertz modulating component, while passing the higher frequency modulating component.
- the resulting electrical signal from the highpass filter is then applied to a low pass electrical filter 16 which has a cut-off frequency somewhat higher than the high frequency modulating component frequency in order to eliminate noise.
- the cut-off frequency of low pass filter 16 will be at least 1250 hertz.
- high pass filter 15 and low pass filter 16 may be replaced by a band pass filter having a pass band chosen so as to be centered about the high frequency modulating component (e.g. 1250 hertz) in order to eliminate the 60 and 120 hertz low frequency components as well as high frequency noise.
- the output from low pass filter 16 is applied on line 17 to the inverting input of an operational amplifier Z1.
- the output of operational amplifier Z1 is connected to the anode of a diode D1.
- the cathode of diode D1 is connected through a resistor R1 to the non-inverting input of Z1, to one terminal of a resistor R2, and to one terminal of a capacitor C2, while the remaining terminal of resistor R2 is connected to one terminal of a capacitor C3, which also forms the output line 18 for this portion of the circuit.
- the remaining terminal of capacitor C3 is connected to ground.
- a variable resistor R3 is connected to the junction of diode D1 and capacitor C2, and has its wiper 19a connected to ground.
- a peak detector 19 which operates to produce an output signal on line 18 corresponding to the demodulated peak amplitude of the high frequency modulating component of the modulated visible light received by photovoltaic detector 12. It will be understood that the setting of variable resistor R3 will determine the time constant of capacitor/resistor combination C2/R3, and hence the decay time of the peak detector 19.
- the output 18 of peak detector 19 is connected to a voltage comparator or Schmitt trigger 20 formed by operational amplifiers Z2 and Z3.
- Operational amplifier Z3 is connected as a voltage follower and has its non-inverting input connected to the wiper 21 of a variable resistor R4.
- Variable resistor R4 is referenced between ground and a positive voltage +V.
- the output from voltage reference amplifier Z3 is connected through a resistor R5 to the inverting input of amplifier Z2, and also through resistors R6 and R7 to the output of amplifier Z2.
- the junction of resistors R6 and R7 form the output from voltage comparator 20, while the output 18 previously described from peak detector 19 is connected to the non-inverting input of amplifier Z2. Voltage swings on the output line 22 of voltage comparator 20 are limited by means of serially connected zener diodes D2 and D3.
- the threshold level of voltage comparator 20 is determined by the setting of variable resistor R4. When the positive voltage on peak detector output line 18 exceeds this reference voltage, the output 22 of voltage comparator 20 changes state. It will be observed that the feedback for amplifier Z2 associated with resistor R6 provides hysteresis to the voltage comparison circuit.
- the output 22 from comparison circuit 20 is applied to a buffer amplifier Z4 which drives a utilization device, designated generally at 23.
- utilization device 23 may be a visual or audible indicator, a counter, or any other electrical, mechanical or electro-mechanical device responsive to a control signal from an object recognition system as is well known in the art.
- the self-modulating lamp circuit 25 may be utilized alone in applications where a modulated vapor lamp output is desired.
- the resonant circuit associated with lamp 3 for producing self-modulation of the lamp may be replaced by other types of resonant circuits capable of producing oscillations in the lamp intensity output of the desired frequency.
Abstract
Description
Claims (17)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US06/650,809 US4642526A (en) | 1984-09-14 | 1984-09-14 | Fluorescent object recognition system having self-modulated light source |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
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US06/650,809 US4642526A (en) | 1984-09-14 | 1984-09-14 | Fluorescent object recognition system having self-modulated light source |
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US4642526A true US4642526A (en) | 1987-02-10 |
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US06/650,809 Expired - Lifetime US4642526A (en) | 1984-09-14 | 1984-09-14 | Fluorescent object recognition system having self-modulated light source |
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US4802762A (en) * | 1986-10-14 | 1989-02-07 | Southwest Research Institute | Optical inspection of polymer-based materials |
US5028862A (en) * | 1989-12-26 | 1991-07-02 | Honeywell Inc. | Voltage follower circuit for use in power level control circuits |
US5174571A (en) * | 1988-06-23 | 1992-12-29 | Aubusson Russell C | Temporary line marking method and apparatus |
US5198871A (en) * | 1991-06-18 | 1993-03-30 | Southwest Research Institute | Laser-induced-fluorescence inspection of jet fuels |
US5418855A (en) * | 1993-09-27 | 1995-05-23 | Angstrom Technologies, Inc. | Authentication system and method |
US5548106A (en) * | 1994-08-30 | 1996-08-20 | Angstrom Technologies, Inc. | Methods and apparatus for authenticating data storage articles |
US5574790A (en) * | 1993-09-27 | 1996-11-12 | Angstrom Technologies, Inc. | Fluorescence authentication reader with coaxial optics |
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